Grumman American AA-5B N414DJ

Summary

On 17 January 2008 at about 19:11 local time, a Grumman American AA-5B registered N414DJ, operated by Douglas James Weir, was involved in an accident near Norwood, Massachusetts, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 January 2008 at 19:11

Classification

Accident

Location

Norwood, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Norwood Memorial Airport (OWD)

Coordinates

42.1939, -71.1778

Aircraft

Grumman American AA-5B

Registration

N414DJ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Douglas James Weir

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Norwood → Linden

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA08LA041

Nobody was injured.

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. *This report was modified on May 20, 2008.*

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, after normal preflight and engine run-up, he departed runway 17 and noted that the engine was developing 2250 revolutions per minute. Initial climb out was normal, but after reaching about 200 feet above ground level the engine suddenly sputtered and lost power. He declared an emergency, and with little runway left to land straight ahead, he maneuvered the airplane to look for an alternative landing site. He stated that the airplane was just above stall speed when he landed in soft wetlands adjacent to the runway. Examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector found the fuel tanks full, with no contamination. The throttle, mixture, carburetor heat controls, and flight controls functioned normally. Engine continuity was established through to the accessory section when the propeller was rotated by hand. Additionally, at the time of takeoff, the air temperature was 31 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point temperature 23 degrees Fahrenheit, and humidity was 67 percent. According to the FAA's Icing Probability Curve, at the above temperature, dew point and humidity, the icing curve indicates visible icing at rated power for float type carburetors.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.